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Telephone Communication and Internet in Akhalgori

January 29, 2014
 
Mari Otarashvili, Akhalgori

Russian cell phone network MegaPhone has become very strong in Akhalgori district. Here everybody has numbers of MegaPhone in parallel to Georgian mobile communication companies MagtiCom and GeoCell; index for MegaPhone is 929 in South Ossetia. MegaPhone’s internet communication defeated almost every Georgian internet provider company in the district. 

MagtiCom, GeoCell and Beeline are most popular among Georgian mobile communication companies for the residents or visitors of Akhalgori district. However, for uncertain reasons even before the August 2008 War those companies had poor coverage in the district. 

Locals use MegaPhone to call de-facto public officials in Akhalgori and Tskhinvali. They do not have Georgian cell phones. Since Georgian companies have blocked Russian-Ossetian MegaPhone, they cannot call Ossetian index (929) from MagtiCom, GeoCell and Beeline. Consequently, locals have to dial MegaPhone numbers only from MegaPhone that is much cheaper too. Very often, Akhalgori district residents contact each other via MegaPhone company because they do not have MagtiCom numbers.

Whilst Georgian mobile communication companies have free coverage in the district, the only normal internet-provider in Akhalgori is only MegaPhone.

First 1 gigabyte “light” costs 350 Russian rubles (18, 20 GEL), 3 gigabytes or medium costs 550 rubles (26 lari), 6 gigabyte “progressive internet – 900 rubles (46, 80 lari).

Locals have already tried MagtiCom, GeoCell and Beeline for internet communications. Initially MagtiCom’s modem worked very well but now nobody wishes to use it for internet via cell phone because it does not have good coverage. 

GeoCell always had problems of coverage in Akhalgori district. People had to find particular places, where communication was available. 

As for Beeline, it is good for mobile communication but does not have many consumers. People do not use it for internet either.

It is noteworthy that Georgian cell communication networks were not good enough even before the 2008 war. 

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